San Ignacio Church (Manila)

Ruins of San Ignacio Church showing its rear elevation

There were three churches built at the site of the former Colegio de Manila (currently Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila) between 1587 and 1879. The first church, designed by Italian Jesuit priest-architect Gianantonio Campioni, was constructed in 1587 and dedicated to St. Ignatius of Loyola.[2] The funds for the construction came from oidor Don Gabriel de Ribera.[2] It was made of wood with a tile roof and was completed in 1632.[2]

The second church, made of stone, was constructed from 1590 to 1596 following the plans of Antonio Sedeño and was dedicated to Saint Anne, the mother of the Virgin Mary.[2] It was damaged by an earthquake in 1600.

In 1626, the third church was constructed and dedicated again to St. Ignatius of Loyola.[2] The church was completed in 1632. Due to the expulsion of the Jesuits from the Philippines, the church slowly deteriorated from 1768 to 1784. The Seminario de San Carlos managed the church and the adjacent Colegio de Manila in 1784.[2] On 6 September 1852, an earthquake caused major damage to the façade of the church. The flanking bell towers and the lower floor of the nave were the only structures left standing. The site later became a military barracks known as Cuartel de España, which served as the headquarters of the 31st American Infantry Regiment.[2]

Youths playing basketball at the ruins of San Ignacio Church.

The plans of the church and its adjacent school were kept at the Jesuit Archives in Manila. However, the plans did not reflect the construction as it was actually built at the former Jesuit compound. In 1879, the Jesuits were authorized to use the stones of the 17th century San Ignacio Church as foundation for the construction of the new church on Calle Arzobispo.[2] Gustave Eiffel designed and supplied the metal framework for the church. Thus confirming the contribution of Eiffel in Philippine church architecture, just not in San Sebastián Church as many believed.[3]

The second church, or the fourth attempt of the Jesuits, built for St. Ignatius of Loyola was designed by the architect Félix Roxas Sr., the first recorded Filipino architect[4] in classical and renaissance style.[2] The wooden interior and statuary were designed and executed by Isabelo Tampinco.[5] His atelier and Agustín Sáez were charged with the altars and pulpit. Sáez was the director of the art academy in Manila and art teacher at the Ateneo Municipál.[2] In 1889, construction of the church was completed.[2]

Unfortunately, the church was destroyed during the Battle of Manila. It continuously burned for four days because of the heavy use of good local hardwood.

Interior courtyard of the Casa Misión.

After it was destroyed in 1945, the property was acquired by the City of Manila. The Jesuits has kept the plans for the church; however, they did not rebuild in Intramuros and transferred to Loyola Heights, Quezon City and erected the Church of the Gesù there. The City of Manila rented out the property to different companies, which converted its ruins as an office space and a warehouse due to its proximity near the Manila South Harbor. Its ruins were altered by the private developers, such as putting additional circular window holes on the building envelope. Later on, the ruins of the church was turned into a basketball court.

Excavation and plans to restore the church began when the Intramuros Administration was created in 1979 through Presidential Decree 1616. The Intramuros Administration is currently rebuilding the church as a part of Museo de Intramuros, which is planned to be an ecclesiastical museum that will house a thousand artifacts that the Intramuros Administration had collected over time.